William’s patience was already razor–thin. Seeing her standing there, fumbling for something to say, only irritated him further. His mood had soured the moment he laid eyes on her–she was nothing more than a stranger to him now.
Just as he was about to walk away, Roxanne finally spoke, her voice unsteady. “William… Aunt Esme said… that I should stay and take care of you…”
“There is no need.” His rejection was swift and final.
Without another glance, he turned and strode up the stairs. But halfway up, something crossed his mind. He stopped abruptly, and then turned back with a sharp, unreadable expression.
Roxanne, still looking down, flushed with embarrassment.
Right in front of her, he pulled out his phone and dialed Esme. The call connected almost immediately, and his mother’s cheerful voice rang through the receiver.
“William! You have met Roxanne, haven’t you? That child has always been so good and well–behaved. Don’t be too hard on her.”
His tone was clipped and full of restraint. “Mom, what exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Nothing much,” Esme replied casually. “You work so hard and barely take care of yourself, so I found someone thoughtful to help you. Originally, I wanted Sylvia, but… well, you know how that turned out. Then, as fate would have it, Roxanne came to me. I thought-”
“Mom!” William cut her off, his tone sharp. “I am a grown man. I can take care of myself. Have you forgotten? I was raised in the military, where self–sufficiency was a
necessity. I don’t need anyone fussing over me.”
Esme sighed, clearly unimpressed. “Fine, maybe you don’t need someone to cook and clean for you. But what about your duty to this family? You refuse to marry Sylvia, but don’t you still need an heir?”
William clenched his jaw. So this was her real concern. He had known it would come to this–especially after she found out Renee had a child.
“Mom,” he warned.
“William, Roxanne is from my family. Even if you don’t marry her, if she has your child, the baby will still be part of our bloodline, won’t it?”
His patience snapped. “Mom, I will never marry or have children with anyone but Renee. I’m telling you now–do not try anything like this again.”
Esme’s frustration boiled over at the mention of Renee. Her voice rose. “William, wake up! Are you really going to let that woman tie you down forever? What is it about her that has you so obsessed? This is just ridiculous!”
His answer was calm but unwavering. “She isn’t perfect. But she’s the one I choose- flaws and all. You need to accept that.”
He ended the call and drew in a deep breath, trying to rein in his frustration. But in the very next moment, rage took over. With a sudden force, he hurled his phone across the room, the impact shattering it against the wall with a sharp, resounding crash.
“Leave. Now!” William’s voice thundered through the room, his fury unmistakable.
Barr Seymour was the driver who picked her up from the restaurant the other day.
“Thank you, Mr. Chadwick,” she said, her voice soft but sincere.
Ryder studied her for a moment, and then pulled her into his arms. She stiffened briefly but didn’t resist, standing still as he held her.
“Renee, please take care of yourself. Stay safe and wait until I can return for you.”
She nodded after a moment.
She didn’t fully grasp the weight behind Ryder’s words. He feared she might return to William, though he couldn’t bring himself to voice that concern. To her, he had always been a superior, a figure of authority. If he confessed his feelings for her, he worried it might push her further away.
Once Ryder had left, Renee lay in bed, her eyes wide open, staring into the darkness until the first light of dawn. Sleep was nowhere to be found. She needed to think–this mission was no small matter, and there was no one more suited for it than her.
Whether as the Carter family’s former heiress or William’s ex–wife, she could easily re -establish herself in Tofral.
Renee was officially back.
This time, she wasn’t just returning–she was taking back everything that was rightfully hers.
But then again… The title of the Carter family’s heiress? That was irrelevant now. With Johnny gone, it held no weight.
William’s ex–wife? She had no use for that either. Going back to something that had failed wasn’t an option. William was no prize. There were countless men in the world, all young, strong, and full of potential.
As soon as the morning light crept in, she picked up the phone and dialed Ryland.
He answered groggily, his voice hoarse and weak from sleep.
“Hello? Who’s calling?”
“It’s your boss speaking.”
“What the hell? You’ve got some nerve pulling this joke at this hour.”
Being woken up by a call at this hour was bad enough, but the audacity of the caller to
claim they were his boss only fueled Ryland’s irritation. He threw off the blanket in a fit of rage, ready to shout, when suddenly, the voice clicked–it sounded oddly familiar. And that tone… it was unmistakable. Something about it made him pause, a flash of recognition sparking in his mind.
A sudden realization hit him, and he asked, his voice now filled with excitement, “Wait -who did you say you were?”
Renee’s reply was calm, steady. “Your boss.”
A beat of silence, and then Ryland’s excited shout burst through the phone, “Renee! It’s
you! You’re back! This can’t be real!”
Renee could practically hear the joy in his voice. She smiled to herself. Ryland was her one true ally in Tofral–the only one who genuinely wanted her back.
